PART FIVE By Bunny

Hyde walked up and saw Jackie snuggled up to Francis, his arms wrapped around
her. His fists clenched in near-rage, but pride got the best of him and he
just stomped into his El Camino and sped off.

Jackie finally looked up, wiping her cheeks off.

"I'm sorry about that..."

"You're sorry?" he breathed. "You, are a rat..." he thought to himself.

"I need to go home now... I'll see you tomorrow for lunch..." she said,
getting up weakly and giving a little wave as she walked towards her car.

~*~

"What time are we leaving to see Superman???" Dewey bounced from the couch,
all hyper.

"We're not; the date is cancelled." Hyde said flatly.

"No fair!" Dewey pouted.

But, Malcolm's ears pricked up at Hyde's tone.

"What happened?"

"What happened? Hmmm... let's see... I don't have a clue, but why don't you
ask your big brother?" he growled, staring daggers at Francis as he stomped
to his room and slammed the door so loudly the apartment shook.

"What happened?" Dewey demanded.

Francis shifted uncomfortably. He already felt kinda guilty about this; the
last thing he needed was MORE guilt from the knowledge he'd disappointed his
baby brother...

"I... I need a smokes..." he muttered, slipping out quickly to the
fire-escape, closing the window behind him.

Dewey sat on the couch, his lower-lip sticking out, and Malcolm and Reece
knew a tantrum was likely forthcoming, and sighed, figuring they should do
something about it.

"Okay, Dew, we can do something tonight anyways..." Malcolm tried.

"Wanted to see Superman..." he sniffled.

"Ahhh... we'll take you?" Reece tried.

"You don't have enough money..." Dewey reminded.

"Who was gonna pay? I meant sneak us i---"

"Oh, GREAT influence, Reece!" Malcolm said with an exasperated sigh.

"Can we ask Jackie? She might still wanna take us..."

"I don't know Dewey..." Malcolm hedged. "I mean... she's mad at Steven, she
might be mad at Francis, too..."

"She's not mad at US..." Dewey pointed out patiently.

"He's right; and she DID have plans with US, not just Steven." Reece added.
"I say we go."

"Wow, I actually can't argue with this... let's go." Malcolm said, tossing
Dewey a coat on their way out the door...

~*~

Jackie opened the door and looked at Reece, Malcolm and Dewey in surprise.

"We're ready to go." Dewey grinned, reaching out his arms to be hefted up.

Jackie looked confused but lifted him to hip anyways. "Go where?"

"Superman..."

"Yeah, you were gonna go with us, too..."

"If you don't want to, we understand..." Malcolm muttered, slightly
embarrassed.

"Awww, no..." she smiled softly. "I'll just go get my car-keys..."

~*~

Francis stubbed out his cigarette and re-entered the apartment to see Hyde on
the couch, lazily drinking a bottled-beer.

"Wow, quiet..." he observed.

Hyde just leveled him with a good glare as if to say, "You DARE to speak?"

Finally, Francis got to taking a good look around and realized WHY it was so
quiet.

"Hey...where are my little brothers?"